Not entirely their fault

This is a reply to Atty. Frank Malilong’s My Father, The Policeman column. First, I have to say that I respect Attorney Malilong and while he certainly has forgotten who I am, he still politely acknowledges my greetings every time we meet at the Cebu City Sports Complex oval.

Yes it’s true the police are less appreciated than the military, as what you claimed. But it’s not entirely the police’s fault. First, the military doesn’t enforce the law. which the police have to do every second of the day non-stop. When someone is tasked to do something every second of every day non-stop, he or she is bound to make a mistake. It’s simple human nature. But nobody appreciates this fact.

Also when someone is arrested by the police for an alleged commission of a crime there are two groups who are affected.

On one hand is the victim. While the victim appreciates the assistance of the police in solving the alleged crime and arresting the alleged criminal, they seldom speak out in the defense of the police. The victim or his/her family, relatives and friends never speak out in defense of the police whenever the police encounter harsh criticisms in doing his/ her job. I never heard a victim or his/her family defend the police in the midst of all criticisms the police have to endure.

On the other hand, every time the police arrest an alleged criminal, the criminal, his/her family, relatives and friends quickly hurl criticisms, unfair and sometimes ridiculous accusations, against the police when all the police did was do his/her job.

Unfortunately for the police, these criminals have found allies in the ranks of so-called human rights advocates, who claim that criminals are forced to commit a crime because of poverty and since the whole machinery of the government is being used against the poor criminal, he/she is entitled to their help and sympathy.

Now let’s compare these two groups of people. How often do we hear the victim, his/her family, relatives and friends speak out to defend the police? The answer is none.

What about the criminal, his/her family, relatives and friends? How often do we hear them criticize and hurl unfair accusations against the police? Almost every time if not every time a criminal is arrested.

The path that the police take while doing their thankless job, is a lonely path. He can’t find friends among the community he serves. He can only depend on his own brethren for understanding and sympathy. Yet despite all these, the police continue to serve and protect the public unappreciated.--